Framer Workshop CMS Component for Table of Contents

What is Framer Workshop?

Framer Workshop is an advanced environment within the Framer ecosystem that empowers designers and developers to create custom code components without leaving the Framer platform. Unlike the purely visual canvas, Workshop is the place where code, logic, and design meet. It allows creators to extend the limits of what can be built in Framer, bridging the gap between no-code accessibility and fully custom-coded flexibility.

The true beauty of Workshop lies in its modularity. Instead of being confined to static blocks, users can build reusable components with dynamic properties. These can be dragged and dropped onto any Framer project, but also deeply customized via exposed controls, enabling non-coders to benefit from highly technical functionality. It is, in many ways, the playground where design meets engineering.

Contra’s Framer Hackathon Event

An important milestone for the Framer community came with Contra’s #FramerHackathon, an event that celebrated innovation and creativity within the Framer ecosystem. Participants were challenged to design and build custom components, pushing the boundaries of what Workshop makes possible. The hackathon highlighted how Framer is not just a tool, but a collaborative platform where design and development intersect.

Projects from this event demonstrated the diversity of what can be achieved: from experimental navigation systems to sophisticated interactive animations, each submission showcases the power of Workshop in real-world use. Events like these also reinforce the importance of open sharing within the design community—we exchange ideas, inspire one another, and contribute to a growing library of reusable components.

Introducing the Table of Contents Line System

One of the best examples of the power of Workshop is the Table of Contents line system component. On the surface, this component seems simple: a vertical set of lines that highlight the active state of a section as you scroll. Yet, it goes much deeper. Hovering over these lines reveals a full list of the document’s H2 and H3 headings, neatly organized into a popup panel. Clicking any heading smoothly scrolls the user to that section of the page.

This elegantly solves a common usability problem: keeping long-form content navigable. Readers no longer need to guess where they are in a document. Instead, the component provides a live, responsive map of the content, ensuring clarity and ease of exploration.

Customization Options That Transform the Experience

The Workshop version of this Table of Contents component is not just functional—it is highly customizable. Designers and developers can adjust nearly every visual and interactive detail to suit the project’s needs.

Line Alignment and Styling

Users can set whether the active line system aligns left or right, depending on the page layout. Spacing between lines, line thickness, and even the gradient style can all be fine-tuned. Rounded or square edges offer another layer of visual flexibility, ensuring that the component feels native to the brand’s identity.

Active State and Hover Behavior

The active state color settings let creators define precisely how the active section stands out. Beyond static design, hover effects add an interactive layer: as the user moves their cursor over the line system, the hidden panel of headings animates open, revealing the full navigational structure.

Typography and Content Hierarchy

The component automatically detects and organizes H2 and H3 headings. Designers can adjust font sizes, colors, hover colors, and spacing for each level. This makes it easy to visually distinguish major sections (H2) from subtopics (H3), giving the user a clear mental map of the page’s hierarchy.

Popup Panel Layout

The popup panel itself is fully adjustable. Designers can configure its width, padding, maximum height, border radius, shadow intensity, and background colors. These controls ensure that the panel is never an intrusive element but instead feels perfectly integrated into the design system of the website.

Responsive Interactions

Framer Workshop also ensures that the component adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes. The popup panel direction can be set (left or right), and with careful use of padding and spacing, the component works beautifully in both desktop and mobile contexts.

Why This Component Matters

The Table of Contents line system created in Framer Workshop is a shining example of how small, well-crafted interactions elevate user experience. It is simple in concept but powerful in execution:

• It provides real-time feedback on where the user is within the content.

• It gives direct access to specific sections without endless scrolling.

• It creates interactive delight through hover reveals and smooth scroll animations.

• It remains entirely brand-flexible thanks to a wide range of customization options.

For designers, this means they no longer have to choose between usability and aesthetic integrity. For developers, it shows how Workshop can take a simple idea and translate it into a polished, scalable component.

Workshop as a Game-Changer

Framer Workshop is not just a coding tool; it is a creative enabler. The Table of Contents component illustrates how a well-designed Workshop project can enrich navigation, improve accessibility, and enhance the storytelling of a digital experience.

By combining the simplicity of drag-and-drop with the depth of code-driven customization, Workshop bridges the worlds of no-code designers and experienced developers. The Table of Contents line system is more than a navigational aid—it is proof of how Workshop unlocks a new dimension of design possibilities.